Chapter 27

Oh. My. God...What did he just say??

My eyes shot open and what was left of my morning fatigue had instantly vanished. Every muscle in my body went stiff as the air became locked in my lungs, burning and needing to escape.

“James,” I gasped.

I tried pulling myself away from him, only to be yanked back against his chest. His arms tightened around me, making it even more impossible for me to get away. I felt him bury his face in the inner curve of my neck. His hot breath caused my skin to prickle with nervous wanting.

“I meant what I said, Mia,” he said gruffly. “Stop it. Or, I won’t be able to control myself.”

There was a small part of me that really didn’t think James was being serious; however, the not-so-subtle stiffness that kept nudging me in the back was proof enough of his sincerity on the matter.

“Then let me get up,” I said hoarsely.

Another rough growl vibrated through his chest, sending chills down my spine. His strong hands curled around my waist.

“I don’t want to,” he admitted. “Please...Let’s stay like this for just a little while longer. Please, Mia.”

I was stunned. Even more so than before. I don’t think I’d ever heard James speak in such a pleading manner. That wasn’t the kind of man he was.

James was never one to beg—if he ever wanted something, he either worked hard for it or simply took it. My cheeks broke out in an insatiable blush.

“J-James,” I breathed.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose along my neck once more while taking numerous deep breaths. He took in my scent as though it was his only form of oxygen.

Slowly, his hands began to move beneath the blankets, roaming skillfully over my body. One hand remained on the lower half of my abdomen while the other traveled upward. His fingers slid along the valley between my breasts and dragged along my collarbone.

The heat beneath my surface was humming with excitement. That same strange magnetic sensation that always kept wanting me to stay close to James returned with full force. Instead of trying to separate, I found myself pushing back into his arms.

I reached my hand back to feel his hot, straining muscles. “James...” I hummed wistfully. “I want...I want...”

God, there were so many things that I wanted. Having come to this newly established relationship with him, I wanted to openly explore the physical end of our connection. I wanted to push the boundaries of this odd pull I kept feeling and seeing where it led.

James curled his hand around the base of my neck and forced me to turn my head back to look at him. He pressed his lips to the corner of my mouth.

“I know what you want,” he said huskily. “Let me give it to you.”

My lips parted, as a distorted gasp slipped off my tongue. His hand skimmed along the band of my sleep shorts before slipping underneath.

The tips of his fingers dipped over my mound and slid into my awaiting heat. He groaned and jutted and grounded his hips into me.

“Oh my God,” I cried out.

“Fucking hell,” he snarled. “You’re so wet...So fucking perfect for me.”

“James, I—”

He nipped at the shell of my ear and circled over my clit, sending waves of pleasure to pulse through me. “Be a good girl and let me make you feel good.”

I felt my entire mind go blank and all I could do was nod my head. James had me utterly locked in place, I was completely at the mercy of his masterful hands. He drifted his hand lower and sank two of his thick fingers inside of me.

I could hardly recall the last time I was touched so intimately. I needed more.

I arched my back while trying to push further into his hands. James curled his fingers and sought out that hidden sensitive spot within me.

My small moans and gasps were bouncing off the walls as the heat below my stomach started to rise. I felt my inner coils tighten further and further with each thrust of his hand between my thighs. James threw me clear over the edge when he slipped out of my slick core and pressed the heel of his palm against my swollen clit.

“James! Oh, I’m...I—”

“Come for me,” he demanded. “I want to feel that sweet, little pussy come around my fingers.”

His words mixed with the overwhelming ministrations of his hands, caused me to spiral out of control. A million small stars exploded behind my eyes as my orgasm crashed over me.

Moments later, James wrapped me in his arms as I fell back in total exhaustion. I was both pleased and slightly surprised. Why hadn’t he tried to seek his own pleasure in the midst of everything? Why had he held himself back?

James must have sensed my silent inquiry. “I can sense that you may not be entirely ready for more.”

I took my lip between my teeth and felt my cheeks flushed. “You’re not wrong. When you and I first started, you know, trying to be physical with one another, I was severely hesitant,” I explained.

“Is it because of the pregnancy?” he asked. I nodded my head.

“I don’t want to risk anything until we know if it’s safe.”

James nodded his head in understanding when a sudden knock on the door caused us both to grow tense.

“Mia!” Lily called.

James and I swiftly got out of bed and got ourselves situated before answering the door. Lily was stunned when she noticed that I wasn’t alone when I opened the door to greet her. Her wondrous look was soon paired with a knowing smile.

She held up a thick packet of newspapers and beamed with excitement. “Have either of you seen today’s paper? Here, I thought you told me that the press conference went horrible, but take a look at this.”

James took the paper from Lily and unfolded it. Plastered across the front page, was a large photo of me and him sitting at the press conference. I knew I should have been focused on the words they’d written, but my eyes were too focused on the picture.

The photographer managed to capture a shot that made me appear feral, yet composed. Meanwhile, James possessed a look of pure wonderment and clear devotion as his head was turned toward me.

“Mia, read this,” he said with a smile. “The press is absolutely nuts over you.”

“They’re calling you ‘ferociously fierce’!” Lily cheered. “They claim that it’s no wonder why James has chosen you to be his wife.”

James wrapped a supportive arm around me. For the first time in a long time, I felt both secure and hopeful in my situation with James.